Rudi Völler shared his views on the quarter-final exit in the Europa League with the kicker. "We hoped for more, particularly in this competition. We lost to a very good team and we knew it would be difficult before the game," said the 60-year-old after the German-Italian clash in Düsseldorf. "But our performance, it's as clear as daylight, did not match our ability. We'll talk about it and analyse it. We put up a good fight but a couple of players looked inhibited."
Bayer 04 announced good news a few days after the end of the season for the Werkself: The contract with Karim Bellarabi has been extended by two years to 30 June 2023. In signing the deal, the Black and Reds have retained the second-longest serving Leverkusen player after the skipper Lars Bender – Bellarabi joined in 2011 from Eintracht Braunschweig. The 30-year-old winger has scored 31 goals and provided 44 assists in 169 Bundesliga games.
The former Werkself number one Bernd Leno has married his girlfriend Sophie-Christin after the wedding planned for early summer was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 28-year-old wrote 'Mr and Mrs Leno' under a wedding photo posted on Instagram.
Bayer 04 brought Leno in on loan for half a season from VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2011 and then signed him on permanent terms. The Germany keeper was at Leverkusen until 2018 when he followed the call of the Premier League and joined Arsenal. Friday, 14 August will be the ninth anniversary of Leno making his Bundesliga debut for the Werkself; the 1.89 metre keeper kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 home win against Werder Bremen. Bayer 04 say: Congratulations on your wedding!
Four former Werkself players made their debut for Leverkusen on 13 August – albeit in different years. Bum-kun Cha, now 67 years old, played for the Black and Reds for the first time in 1983, won the UEFA Cup in 1988 and then retired the following year. A certain Rüdiger Vollborn made his debut for Bayer 04 at the same time as Cha. The goalkeeper went on to play for Leverkusen for 17 years and, to this day, he has a record number of Bundesliga appearances for Bayer 04 (401).
On 13 August 1994, Markus Münch, signed from Bayern Munich, made his debut for Leverkusen. The now 47-year-old stayed for two seasons before returning to FC Bayern. Exactly five years after Münch, a certain Michael Ballack made his first appearance for the Werkself. The playmaker stayed for three years but returned in 2010 to Leverkusen after playing for Bayern Munich and Chelsea. He ended his playing career at the Werkself in 2012.
From his arrival at the airport, the medical and contract signing, right through to photo shoots, his very own trading card and his first interview at the BayArena: Werkself TV followed new signing Afonso Moreira up close on his first day in Leverkusen. In the interview, the 21-year-old Portuguese left-winger, who has joined the Werkself from Lyon, talks about his excitement ahead of joining Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga, as well as his conversation with head coach Carles Martínez. Moreira also reveals the secret behind his iconic goal celebration – which he intends to perform “as often as possible” at the BayArena next season...
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A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
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After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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